(Fayetteville, NC)- The Cumberland Oratorio Singers today announced its 2017-18 Season with thehelp of a grant from the Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County. “The Cumberland OratorioSingers are extremely grateful for the on going support from the Arts Council on a local and state level.We thank you for your willingness to support our organization as we strive to bring outstanding choralmusic to Fayetteville and the surrounding areas,” says Matthew Franks, President of the Board ofDirectors, Cumberland Oratorio Singers (COS). “The Arts Council Series Support Grant will assist inthe operation of COS for the entire season.”Now under the artistic direction of Mr Jason Britt, COS's 2017-18 season will explore the reasons wesing. In October, “We Sing To Relate” will celebrate Americanism through a presentation of a few ofAmerica's greatest composers. Our annual holiday offering to the community in December will be“We Sing To Remember” and will feature holiday favorites along with a walk-on performance ofHandel's timeless “Messiah”; opening up the choir to the community it serves. All singers are invited to“join COS for the day” and sing “Messiah” with us. “We Sing To Experience” will serve as the finale toour 26th season in April. This concert will present a few of the greatest masterworks of the 18th-21stcenturies. Full concert information (dates/time, venues, tickets, etc.) can be obtained atwww.singwithCOS.org or on Facebook/Cumberland Oratorio Singers.“The Arts Council is proud to partner with the Cumberland Oratorio Singers in support of the 2017-18season,” says Deborah Martin Mintz, Arts Council Executive Director. “Project Support Grants for2017-18 will help fund 25 projects facilitated by 19 nonprofit organizations in our community. Theseprojects help strengthen our community through festivals and concerts, youth education programs, artexhibitions, art workshop, and so much more.”The purpose of the Project Support Grants is to increase opportunities for access to arts, science,cultural and historical programming in Cumberland County. Project Support Grants may be awarded tononprofit agencies in Cumberland County who demonstrate financial and administrative stability.As Fayetteville's only classical music choral society, COS has grown and gained greater diversity inmembership and gained increased recognition and notability throughout the Cape Fear region. COS'expanding collaborations with other music entities as well as local college music programs strengthenour position as one of the Sandhills region's premier music organizations.-END-